Even though this violates Newtonian mechanics, it has been a feature of id Software's first-person shooters since Quake (possibly because of a bug which was well-liked by the testers enough to be kept), as anyone who remembers Ziggurat Vertigo will remember. It may sound strange at first, but in midair you can actually change the direction you're moving in. Learn how to 'hop' by repeatedly jumping whenever you make contact with the ground, for an added boost in speed.

Nevertheless, it is a useful skill to learn. This technique can help a great deal when trying to catch up to someone you're pursuing, but be warned: since you are jumping, you make noise which can be heard by other players. The effect is that you can move something like 20% faster while hopping, although of course it is harder to change direction (ignoring midair steering, you can only change direction while in contact with the ground, which happens for short periods of time). To do this, jump, and hit the jump key again the moment you touch down (the effect is much more pronounced if you fall from a great height on your first jump). In Quake III Arena there is a strange effect when jumping repeatedly when 'hopping' you can effectively 'skid' off the ground you're jumping. Rocketjumping is a useful skill to add to your arsenal. It can also be used to seriously confuse an opponent, particularly a relatively experienced one - a clever rocketjumper can even end up behind his pursuer! Rocketjumping is a great way to make staircases where none exist - just rocketjump from a lower platform to a higher one. In some mods (such as Rocket Arena), or when using the battle suit, rocketjumps are free. Firing a rocket underneath your feet while jumping makes you jump much higher, although the splash effect of the weapon also causes you damage. Since the days of Quake, advanced players have used 'rocketjumping' as a tactical maneuver.

Never one place for more than a few seconds, or you're fragged. The First Rule of First Person Shooters is: Don't stand still, not even for a moment.

Quake 3 arena